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June 2008

The Douglas College Newsletter | New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus, Surrey Training Centre

Excellence and innovation celebrated

Douglas College showcased its latest initiatives at
the third annual Celebration of Teaching, Learning,
Scholarly Activity and Program Innovation.

More than 100 people attended the May ts event,
including employees, students, Board members and
the public. They got an up close and personal look
at everything from podcasting initiatives to new
technologies for deaf people.

“This event provides an opportunity to come together

and recognize those involved in the development of
new Douglas College credential programs,” says Vice
President Education Jan Lindsay.

A wide range of exciting educational activities
including many scholarly activity projects by faculty
and staff were shown. Visitors learned about the
latest research on mammoths in the Vancouver area,
discovered what Opening Classroom Doors is all
about and heard about unique student opportunities
such as the newly developed China Field School

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Douglas College

Seven teams were presented with Program Innovation
Awards recognizing their leading-edge program
development work.

“T want to extend a sincere thank you to all the
exhibitors and organizers for making this year’s event
the best yet. | encourage everyone to keep this event
in mind as they engage in student learning activities
over the next year, and plan to showcase some of these
activities at the 2009 celebration at our David Lam
Campus,” says Lindsay.

as a community and celebrate our mutual efforts to
engage students in a dynamic learning environment

   
    

(| -r): Lab tech Rhonda Benke, Science and Technology Dean Sandy Vanderburgh, Animal
Health Technology (AHT) Chair Diane Boyle, Manager Facilities Services Louie Girotto and
AHT Instructor Pauline Chow received the Program Innovation Award for developing the

AHT Diploma Program.

(I -r): Student Development Dean Ted James, and
Instructors Carol St. Jean, Tom Whalley and Jonathan Baylis received a Program Innovation
Award for developing a Citation in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Program.

College Board Approves

The Douglas College Board
approved this year’s budget at

a special meeting held May 29.

Following input from College
employees and delegations
from community groups,

the College Board decided

to maintain funding in

the 2008/09 year for the
Customer Service and Cashier
Training Program and the
Transitions Pilot Project.

Both programs are for
students with disabilities
and had been considered for
cancellation as the College
grappled with a $2.3-
million funding deficit. The

Transitions program helps

high school students bridge
into College programs and job
opportunities.

The Board room was full

on May 15 as a number

of students, parents and
representatives of community
organizations spoke of their
experiences and encouraged
the College Board to keep the
two programs.

Following the delegations, the
Board instructed the College
to use emergency funds to
pay for these programs in the
coming year.

“The proposed reductions
were not something we

English as a Second Language (EASL

  

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) (I -r): Theatre Coordinator Allan Lysell and Language, Li

2008/09 budget

wanted to do and we are
pleased that the Board has
provided us with the means to
continue these programs while
we look for other sources of
funding as well as efficiencies
across the College,” Vice
President, Education Jan

Lindsay said.
Douglas College, along with

most advanced education
institutions in BC, has
attempted to deal with the
funding shortfall by reducing
programs with low demand
and low enrollment.

“Although the two programs
were under-enrolled, the
Board feels that these

programs serve a vulnerable
population and are essential to
the community,” Lindsay said.
“Douglas has a longstanding
reputation for providing
programs and services for
students with disabilities.”

In various public meetings
Board Chair Andrew Taylor
and President Susan Witter
commented on the difficult
decisions required to balance

the budget this year.

“This has been an extremely
trying time for many of us,”
said President Susan Witter.
“We have worked very hard
to minimize the impact of the
budget shortfall. 1 appreciate

terature and Performing Arts (LLPA)
Assistant Virgina Towers received a Program Innovation Award for developing the Bachelor
of Performing Arts.

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and Community Support (CSS) Coordinator Wendy Parry, CFCS Dean Jan Carrie and
Behavioral Interventionist/CCS Coordinator Lori Woods received a Program Innovation Award
for developing the Advanced Citation in Disability and Applied Behaviour Analysis.

   

the suggestions, comments
and moral support we received
from employees, students and
community members.”

As outlined in the Budget
Update emailed to employees
on April 9, a number of
program and service areas will
have budgets reduced to deal
with the funding shortfall. At
the same time, the College
will continue with the
commitment to funding the
second year of the programs
started in the fall of 2007.

The operating budget to
run all College programs
and services for 2008/09 is
$82,494,000.